SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — AFSCME Council 31 forwarded $19.7 million to its national union headquarters in Washington, D.C., and spent another $3.4 million on political activities and lobbying in fiscal year 2025, according to a new “Where Do Your Union Dues Go?” report from Americans for Fair Treatment.
The union reported $10.9 million for its own representational activities—approximately 20.4% of total disbursements. Its transfer to AFSCME International was $8.9 million larger.
Council 31 represents Illinois workers in state and local government, public universities, school districts and nonprofit agencies, including correctional officers, social workers, nurses and maintenance workers.
“Council 31 sent nearly twice as much to Washington, D.C., as it reported spending on its own representational activities,” said Chip Rogers, CEO of Americans for Fair Treatment. “The workers financing this operation deserve a straight answer. What are they getting for their money?”
AFFT’s analysis of the union’s federal financial disclosures found:
- $19.7 million forwarded to AFSCME International, approximately 37% of total disbursements.
- $10.9 million reported for representational activities, including contract negotiations, grievance handling and arbitration.
- $3.35 million spent on political activities and lobbying, including approximately $2.3 million transferred to the union’s state political account.
- $6.7 million spent on benefits for union employees and officers.
- $54.4 million in net assets at year-end, an increase of more than $41 million since 2016.
Political and lobbying spending reached its highest level in the decade examined by AFFT, more than doubling the average for the preceding three years. Over the same decade, the union’s net assets more than quadrupled.
“Council 31 has built a formidable balance sheet and a well-funded political operation,” Rogers said. “Workers deserve to see that same financial commitment translated into help when they need it.”
The report also examines the union’s longstanding investment in Illinois politics. In 2018, Council 31’s political operation contributed $767,800 to Friends of Michael J. Madigan, the former Illinois House speaker’s campaign committee. Madigan was later convicted on federal corruption charges and sentenced in June 2025 to seven and a half years in prison.
“Nearly $768,000 to one politician’s campaign committee is a spending decision workers deserve to scrutinize,” Rogers said. “Union leaders should explain who makes those decisions, whose interests they serve and how members can hold them accountable.”
Council 31 was also the union named in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, the landmark 2018 Supreme Court decision establishing that public employees cannot be compelled to pay union agency fees without their affirmative consent.
“The union at the center of Janus should understand that public employees have a choice,” Rogers said. “Their financial support must be earned. This report gives workers information they need to decide whether Council 31’s priorities match their own.”
The report is part of AFFT’s “Where Do Your Union Dues Go?” series, which examines publicly available financial disclosures to help workers understand union spending.
For information about union membership and public employees’ rights, visit americansforfairtreatment.org or call (833) 969-FAIR.